Frankie Campbell appeared out of it from the jump; while Baer (above) was getting ready to fight, Campbell was staring out at the crowd (via Sports Illustrated Vault). Baer pummeled Campbell, and between the rounds, Campbell told his second (or trainer), “Something feels like it broke in my head.” At that time, fighters were literally encouraged to fight until they dropped. In next two rounds, Campbell seemed to do well.
Frankie Campbell also had a reputation for “playing possum” during rounds, making his opponents think he was hurt and letting their guard down before Campbell would come out swinging once more, reports SF Gate. Plus, according to Max Baer’s official website, he had been scolded for not knocking his opponent out in a previous match, and was determined not to make that mistake again. He also feared the audience would think the match was predetermined, so Baer was fighting his hardest that night.
But in the fifth round, Baer delivered a devastating right hook to Campbell, hitting him in the face as he approached the neutral corner, according to SF Gate. He probably wasn’t expecting such a hard punch. Sports Illustrated Vault reports that Baer kept hitting Campbell over and over as Campbell clung onto the rope. One of Baer’s punches smashed Campbell’s head into the metal corner bar. In those days, boxers had a responsibility to keep punching as long as their opponent was standing, or until the referee stopped the fight.
